Caroline Flack sent a heartfelt message to a dying super fan who put meeting her on his bucket list when he was given just months to live.
Love Island star Caroline gave comfort to Gordon Reeve, 52, who had longed to meet her when she took to the stage in Crazy for You back in 2017.
He was terminally ill with cancer, too sick to come see her backstage, so Caroline sent Gordon a video message.
Gordon’s widow Mary has shared the story once more after the beloved TV presenter Caroline died aged 40.
Mary, from Saltash, Cornwall, said Caroline also spoke to her former milkman husband on the phone after being passed over by an agent.
She explained how the kindness from Caroline helped lift her husband’s spirits to his dying day.
Caroline Flack (Image: (Credit too long, see caption))
Mary told CornwallLive: “He used to jokingly ask after that: ‘Has Caroline rung? or ‘Has Caroline sent me another video?’.
“He watched Caroline’s video even towards the end. It was such a lovely thing for her to do.”
In the 14 second clip, Caroline said: “Hi Gordon, I hear you’re not feeling very well today, I hope you’re feeling a bit better.
“I was looking forward to meeting you actually and we will still do the show for you today and if you want to come anytime this week then let me know.”
Caroline Flack sent a heartfelt message to a dying man (Image: CornwallLive/ WS)
Dad-of-four Gordon, who had suffered from inoperable oesophageal cancer, passed away in June 2018.
In the previous 18 months since his diagnosis, he had drawn up a bucket list which included meeting the West Ham United team and having his old motorbike restored.
He had been given just four months to live.
And part of that list was to meet his TV idol Caroline.
Gordon Reeve died in 2018
Mary recalled: “He had been a fan forever, back to when she was on X Factor and even before that.
“He just loved her and fancied her, much like every other man in their 50s.
“He watched Love Island just because she was on it.”
Friends took to Twitter in a bid to plead with Caroline to spare just a short time for him while performing in Crazy For You.
She messaged back saying “Let’s try and do it for sure x”.
But Gordon, who was undergoing chemotherapy, was just too ill to attend the show in Plymouth.
Flowers lie outside British television presenter Caroline Flack (Image: REUTERS)
Mary said: “I just heard, I cannot recall whether it was from her agent or someone at the theatre, that she was so nervous about meeting Gordon.”
But the call from the star came through – and it was Gordon who was left stuttering and stammering.
Mary said: “She was really, really lovely and everything I have heard or read about her shows how lovely she was.
“I just thought it was a nice story to remind people in the light of this sad news.”
Caroline Flack was found dead on Saturday (Image: PA)
The TV presenter was found dead at her home in east London on Saturday, after taking her own life.
She told police she would kill herself after she allegedly assaulted her boyfriend in December.
Flack, who was described as “vulnerable” by her management, had pleaded not guilty to assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton at her former flat in north London in a court hearing in the same month.
The trial at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard that, in the aftermath of the alleged incident, Flack told police “I did it” and then warned she would kill herself.
Caroline Flack took time out to send a message to Gordon (Image: CornwallLive/ WS)
Her management company criticised the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for pressing ahead with what it called her “show trial” even after her boyfriend said he did not support it.
The tragedy has put the spotlight back on the pressures which come with TV celebrity.
Flack is the fourth person linked to the ITV2 dating programme to have killed themselves.
She stepped down from presenting the current winter series of Love Island after the alleged assault.
Caroline Flack poses with the award for Best Reality and Constructed Factual Series for Love Island (Image: Getty Images)
The ITV programme did not air on Sunday night, but will be back on Monday with a tribute to Flack.
A spokeswoman said: “Many people at ITV knew Caroline well and held her in great affection.
“All of us are absolutely devastated at this tragic news.
“After careful consultation between Caroline’s representatives and the Love Island production team and given how close we still are to the news of Caroline’s tragic death we have decided not to broadcast tonight’s Love Island out of respect for Caroline’s family.
“Love Island will return tomorrow night which will include a tribute to Caroline who will be forever in our hearts.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
